Packing cutter for mule spindles



P 1950 E. E. BRADISH 2,523,859

PACKING CUTTER FOR MULE SPINDLES Filed May 19, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ELL/arr E. BR'flD/J'H A r ran/v5) Sept. 26, 1950 E. E. BRADISH PACKING CUTTER FOR MULE SPINDLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19',-1949 luvs/v70: 51.1.1077 E. BRAD/5H Br Wf. x,

fiTTOR/VEY Patented Sept. 26, 1950 PACKING CUTTER FOR MULE SPINDLES Elliott E. Bradish, Worcester, Mass, assignor of one-half to Raymond H. Roberts, Worcester,

Mass.

Application May 19, 1949, Serial No. 94,157

17 Claims.

This invention relates to packing cutters for mule spindles in the textile industry, and more particularly to means for cutting the convolutions of roving, yarn or similar strandular material which remain on the spindles when the filled bobbins are removed therefrom.

The ordinary mule as employed for spinning yarn or the like comprises a large number of upright spindles arranged in a horizontal row and all inclined rearwardly at a slight angle. The upper portions of the spindles are tapered to receive hollow bobbins on which the spun yarn is wound. When the bobbins are full the machine is stopped, and it is then operated slowly to wind a few turns on each spindle below the bobbins, these few turns of yarn forming the so-called packing. The full bobbins are then removed or doffed, thus breaking the strand of yarn between each bobbin and the packing therebeneath. Empty bobbins are then placed on the spindles, the machine is operated slowly to wind a few turns of yarn on the lower end portions of the bobbins, and the machine is then placed in operation at normal speed to fill the new set of bobbins. Since more turns are added to the packing every time the bobbins are changed, the packing continues to increase in size until it interferes with the operation of the machine, and accordingly it must be removed. The prior practice has been to cut the accumulated packing off the spindles one at a time by means of a knife held in the hand, while the machine is idle. This is a slow and arduous task, and since the machine may have hundreds of spindles, it will be aparent that the cutting of the packing in this manner involves shutting down a very expensive machine for a considerable length of time during which no production whatsoever can take place. In addition there is an appreciable hazard to the operator by reason of his handling of the knife.

It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide a simple and efiicient mechanism for cutting packing from the spindles of a mule or other textile machine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive apparatus whereby packing can be cut from a plurality of spindles simultaneously.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a packing cutting mechanism which can be operated in connection with the spindles of a textile machine without stopping the rotation of such spindles.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto. a

Referring to the drawing illustrating one em bodiment of the invention, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. l is a, sectional elevation of a mule spindle and associated packing cutter, taken on the line l-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing certain parts moved to different positions;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a knife and its supporting structure;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a packing supporting device;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified form of packing cutter, the section being taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 8;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing certain parts in different positions;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a knife and its supporting structure, as employed in the apparatus of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a packing sup-. porting device, as employed in the apparatus of Fig. 6.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, there is provided a horizontal row of upright spindles 15 each of which extends through a-separate bearing IS in a collar board H. The spindles are all inclined rearwardly at a slight angle. The upper portion of each spindle is tapered in the usual manner to receive and support a bobbin I9. Behind the spindles there are provided the usual fingers (one only being shown) which support the usual horizontal guide wire 2|. In approaching the spindles from the usual creel or the like at the rear, the roving or yarn passes beneath the wire 2|, and the fingers 20 move this wire up and down in a well-known manner to control the path of the yarn as it is intermittently drawn, twisted and wound on the bobbins l9 until a finished coil 23 has been formed on each bobbin. The construction as so far described is wellknown and forms a portion of a spinning mule as ordinarily constructed.

In order that the yarn may be readily started on the empty bobbins it is the practice, before the full bobbins are removed from the spindles, to wind a few turns on the spindles a short distance below the bobbins. These turns, which are called the packing, remain on the spindles when the full bobbins are removed. Thus the packing accumulates until it becomes so large that the machine must be shut down for a considerable length of time to permit the operator to cut away the packing from each spindle by hand.

In accordance with the invention, there is associated with each spindle a device for receiving the packing as it is wound on the spindle, and a knife for cutting the packing. Both the said device and the knife revolve with the spindle. In addition, mechanism is provided to bring about such relative motion between the device and the knife as to cut through the packing. Preferably the arrangement is such that the cutting can be done without stopping the machine, and the packing on a plurality of spindles can be cut simultaneously.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, there is provided a device in the form of a sleeve which surrounds the spindle IS a short distance below the bobbin [9. The upper end portion 26 of the sleeve fits the spindle closely and is secured thereto by a set screw 21. Below the portion 26 the sleeve 25 is enlarged in diameter and formed with a peripheral groove 29 arranged to receive the convolutions of yarn which form the packing. A narrow slot 39 is provided in one side of the sleeve, this slot extending longitudinally of the sleeve and across the groove 29, but preferably not through the sleeve portion 26. The central bore 3| in the sleeve, below the upper portion 26, is somewhat larger in diameter than the adjacent portion of the spindle I5, thus providing space for the reception of the upper portion of a sleeve 33 which is slidably mounted on the spindle. This sleeve 33 carries, near its upper end, a knife 34 which extends radially in the slot and which is arranged to cross the groove 29 as the sleeve 33 moves upwardly or downwardly. The lower edge of the knife is very sharp, so that it will cut through any packing which may be in the groove 29 as the knife moves downwardly across the same. edges of the knife may be sharpened, so that the cutting may take place in either direction.

Mechanism is provided for sliding a plurality of the sleeves 33 along their respective spindles I5 simultaneously and without interfering with the rotation of the spindles. For this purpose the lower portion of each sleeve 33 is enlarged in diameter and formed with a peripheral groove 35. A horizontal shaft 3! is rotatably mounted in front of the spindles in suitable bearings 38 (Fig. 3) supported by the mule carriage (not shown), and to this shaft there are secured levers 40 which extend rearwardly between adjacent sleeves 33. On the rear end of each lever 40 there are mounted two small rollers 4| which extend laterally from opposite sides of the lever and into the grooves 35 of the sleeves 33. An operating lever 43 is secured to the shaft 3'! and extends upwardly therefrom. By pushing this lever 43 rearwardly, the operator can move all the sleeves 33 downwardly at the same time, thus causing the knives 34 to cross the grooves 29 and sever the packing therein. The packing will then be thrown out of the grooves by the action of centrifugal force. The construction can be arranged to cut the packing simultaneously on as many spindles as is desired, or may be found practical. By dividing the shaft into separate aligned sections, each with its individual operating lever, the packing may be If desired, both the upper and lower 1 cut on separate groups of spindles in succession. It will be noted that in the embodiment shown in Fig. l, the knife moves along the spindle, Whereas the packing supporting sleeve is fixed to the spindle.

In Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive there is shown a modified construction in which the knife is fixed to the spindle and the packing supporting device moves along the spindle to bring about the cutting action. In this embodiment there is provided a ylindrical sleeve 45 which is mounted on the spindle I5 with a tight press fit, a short distance below the bobbin l 9. The sleeve 45 carries, near its lower end, a knife 45 which extends radially from the sleeve and is formed with a very sharp upper edge. A sleeve 48 is slidably mounted on the outer surface of the sleeve 45, this outer sleeve 48 having an upper peripheral groove 49 and a lower peripheral groove 50, the latter being somewhat larger in diameter than the groove 49. A longitudinally extending slot 52 is formed in the bore of the outer sleeve 48 to receive the knife 46, this slot extending across the upper peripheral groove 49, in which the packing is wound. Thus as the outer sleeve is moved downwardly, the groove 49 with the packing therein is carried downwardly past the sharp upper edge of the knife 46, and the packing will be severed so that it will be thrown out of the groove by centrifugal force. In order to bring about this movement of the outer sleeves 48, a horizontal shaft 53' is rotatably mounted in front of the spindles in suitable bearings 54 (Fig. 8) supported by the mule carriage (not shown), and to this shaft there are secured bifurcated levers 56 which extend rearwardly and straddle the respective outer sleeves 48. These levers carry on their rear ends small rollers 51 which extend laterally into the lower grooves of the sleeves, from diametrically opposed directions. An operating lever 59 is secured to the shaft 53 and extends upwardly therefrom. By pushing this lever 59 rearwardly, the operator can move all the outer sleeves 48 downwardly at the same time, thus cutting the packing in all the grooves 49 simultaneously. By making the shaft 53 of a suitable length, it is feasible to cut the packing on as many spindles as is desired, or may be found practical, by actuating a single lever 59. If the shaft is divided into aligned sections, each with its individual operating lever, the packing may be cut on separate groups of spindles in succession.

The operation of the invention will now be apparent from the above disclosure. When the bobbins l9 have been filled with coils 23 of spun yarn, the machine will be stopped, the mule carriage will be moved rearwardly to slacken the strands beneath the wire 2|, and the fingers 29 will be lowered to bring this wire into a position opposite the packing grooves 29 (Fig. 1) or 49 (Fig. 6). The machine will then be operated slowly to wind a few turns in the packing grooves, whereupon the full bobbins will be doffed, thus breaking the yarn between the lower ends of the coils 23 and the packing. Empty bobbins will then be placed upon the spindles, and the wire 2| will be raised to permit a few turns to be wound slowly on the lower ends of the empty bobbins, whereupon full speed operation of the machine may be resumed. At any time before the bobbins become full again, the packing can be cut so that it will be thrown out of the packing grooves. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 this merely requires that the operator push the lever 43 rearwardly, thereby moving all the sleeves 33 downwardly and moving the knives 34 downwardly across the grooves 29 to sever the packing therein. Thereupon the lever 43 will be moved forwardly to return the sleeves 33 to their original positions. In the embodiment of Fig. 6, the cutting of the packing merely requires that the operator push the lever 59 rearwardly, thereby moving all the sleeves 48 downwardly and moving the grooves 49 with the packing therein downwardly across the upper edges of the knives 4B. Thereupon the lever 59 will be moved forwardly to return the sleeves 48 to their original positions. In both embodiments of the invention, the cutting of the packing will be accomplished very quickly and easily, without any danger to the operator, and without requiring any interruption in the normal operation of the machine. This will result in a considerable increase in the output of the machine. Because of the ease with which the packing may be cut, there will be no temptation for the operator to allow it to accumulate to an amount sufiicient to interfere with proper and efficient operation of the machine. In general it will be found desirable to cut packing whenever the bobbins are replaced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A packing cutter for a spindle of a textile machine comprising a device adapted to be mounted on the spindle and to receive convolutions of strandular material which forms packing, a knife adapted to be mounted on the spindle,

and means to bring about such relative motion between the said device and the knife as to cause the knife to cut through the packing.

2. A packing cutter for a spindle of a textile machine comprising a sleeve adapted to be mounted on the spindle and having a peripheral groove for the reception of convolutions of strandular material which forms packing, a knife adapted to be mounted on the spindle, and means to bring about such relative motion between the said sleeve and the knife as to cause the knife to sever the packing in the groove.

3. A packing cutter for a spindle of a textile machine comprising a sleeve adapted to be mounted on the spindle and having a peripheral groove for the reception of convolutions of strandular material which forms packing, a knife adapted to be mounted on the spindle, and means to bring about such relative motion between the said sleeve and the knife in a direction parallel with the axis of the spindle as to cause the knife to cross the groove and thereby sever the packing therein.

4. A packing cutter for a spindle of a textile machine comprising a sleeve adapted to be mounted on the spindle and having a peripheral groove for the reception of convolutions of strandular material which forms packing, a second sleeve associated with the first mentioned sleeve and coaxial therewith, a knife fixed to the second sleeve, one of the sleeves being adapted to be fixed to the spindle and the other sleeve being slidable axially relative to the fixed sleeve, and mechanism to slide the slidable sleeve axially and thereby bring about such relative motion between the sleeves as to cause the knife tocross the groove and thus sever the packing therein.

5. A packing cutter for a rotatable spindle of a textile machine comprising coaxial inner and outer sleeves adapted to be mounted on the spindle and slidable axially relative to one another, the

outer sleeve having a peripheral groove for the reception of convolutions of strandular material which forms packing, the outer sleeve also having a longitudinal slot therein extending across the groove. a knife carried by the inner sleeve and extending outwardly within the slot, one sleeve being adapted to be fixed to the spindle, and mechanism to move the other sleeve axially and thereby bring about such relative motion between the sleeves as to cause the knife to cross the groove and thus sever the packing therein.

6. A packing cutter as set forth in claim 5, in which the sleeve-moving mechanism is operable while the sleeves are rotating with the spindle.

'7. A packing cutter as set forth in claim 5, in which the outer sleeve is adapted to be fixed to the spindle.

8. A packing cutter as set forth in claim 5, in which the inner sleeve is adapted to be fixed to the spindle.

9. A packing cutter as set forth in claim 5, in which a manually operable lever is mounted adjacent to the sleeves and connected to one of the sleeves to slide the same axially.

10. A textile machine comprising an upright rotatable spindle having a bobbin-receiving portion, a device mounted on the spindle below the bobbin-receiving portion and shaped to receive convolutions of strandular material which forms packing, a knife mounted on the spindle to re volve therewith, and means to bring about such relative motion between the said device and the knife as to cause the knife to cut through the packing.

11. A textile machine as set forth in claim 10, in which the device is in the form of a sleeve having a peripheral groove to receive the packing.

12. A textile machine as set forth in claim 11, in which relative motion between the sleeve and the knife takes place in the axial direction to cause the knife to cross the groove.

13. A textile machine as set forth in claim 12, in which the sleeve is provided with a longitudinally extending slot which crosses the groove, the knife being located within the slot.

14. A textile machine comprising a horizontal row of upright rotatable spindles each having a bobbin-receiving portion, a device mounted on each spindle below the bobbin-receiving portion thereof and shaped to receive convolutions of strandular material which forms packing, a knife mounted on each spindle to revolve therewith, and mechanism to bring about such relative motion between the said devices and the corresponding knives as to cause the knives to cut through the packing.

15. A textile machine comprising a horizontal row of upright rotatable spindles each having a bobbin-receiving portion, a sleeve mounted on each spindle below the bobbin-receiving portion thereof and having a peripheral groove therein to receive convolutions of strandular material which forms packing, the said sleeve having a slot therein which crosses the groove, 2. second sleeve mounted on the spindle and carrying a knife which lies in the said slot, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted adjacent to the row of spindles and arranged to be turned about its axis manually, and means connecting the shaft to one of the sleeves on each spindle to effect such motion of these sleeves as to cause the knives to sever the packing in the grooves.

16. A textile machine comprising a horizontal row of upright spindles each having a bobbinreceiving portion, a sleeve fixed to each spindle below the bobbin-receiving portion thereof and having a peripheral groove therein to receive convolutions of strandular material which forms packing, each sleeve having a longitudinal slot therein which crosses the groove, a second sleeve slidably mounted on each spindle and carrying a knife which lies in the said slot, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted adjacent to the spindles and arranged to be turned about its axis manually, and levers connecting the shaft to the said second sleeves to slide the same and cause the knives to cross the grooves and sever the packing therein.

17. A textile machine comprising a horizontal row of upright spindles each having a bobbinreceiving portion, a sleeve slidably mounted on each spindle below the bobbin-receiving portion thereof and having a peripheral groove therein to receive convolutions of strandular material which forms packing, each sleeve having a longitudinal slot therein which crosses the groove, a knife fixed to each spindle and lying in the slot of the corresponding sleeve, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted adjacent to the spindles and arranged. to be turned about its axis manually, and levers connecting the shaft to the sleeves to slide the same and move the packing into engagement with the knives and thereby sever the packing.

ELLIOTT E. BRADISH.

No references cited. 

